Roof ventilator



March 12, 1963 J. A. POTTER ROOF VENTILATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 23, 1960 v MN 5 mm M V WPJA N QN|\ Mp0 Ma JY Ul W ,rnw wm mm Q NM.

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March 12, 1963 J. A. POTTER ROOF VENTILATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1960 INVENTOR. c/OH/V 4.1 0775? I .47'7'0E/VEY United States Patent 3,080,808 ROOF VENTILATOR John A. Potter, 16637 Barbee St., Fontana, Calif. Filed May 23, 1960, Ser. No. 31,090 4 Claims. (CI. 9842) This invention relates to roof ventilators particularly for large industrial and storage buildings.

Present ventilators for such buildings are either factory assembled or assembled at the site of installation. In either case, the same weigh three hundred seventy five to five hundred pounds and require special heavyduty equipment to raise into assembly position on the roof. Also, fastening such heavy units to structural members of the roof truss can be accomplished only from below since the bulk of the assembled ventilator units prevents access from above. Thus, scaffolding, use of a bo-atswains chair, or other dangerous and costly-to-use suspension means, must be resorted to to support a man in position to fasten a ventilator in place.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ventilator of the character referred to that is adapted to be made up of sub-assemblies that may easily be handled by a small hoist or be raised by hand and are of such small handleab le size that the same can be easily hoisted through the roof opening over which the ventilator is to be installed, thereby, greatly facilitating fastening of the Nentilator in place as well as obviating the need for moving the same from the eaves to the place of installation, as would be required were the ventilator raised from the outside. In multiple buildings, where such distances are great, the advantages of the latter object are quite marked.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roof ventilator that may be made as two or more transversely applied units that, by means of novel center and outer curb-clamping means, may comprise a ventilator twenty to thirty feet in width and of indeterminate length, according to the requirements of the building on which applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roof ventilator that is sectional, transversely, i.e., made up of two or three units or sections (three being preferred), and of such design, longitudinally, that the sections may be made as a continuous structure for separating ventilating air from outside precipitation and for shedding such precipitation by directing the same to the outside of the ventilator assembly.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description, and which is based on the accompanying drawings. However, said drawings merely show, and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views. I

FIG. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic end view of a roof ventilator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the left sect-ion of said ventilator, the view being taken on the plane of the line 22 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a similarly enlarged side elevational view with the outer side wall or cap broken away to show the interior of the ventilator.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the details of assembly of one of the outer curb-attaching means of the present structure.

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the details of assem- 'bly of one of the middle curb-attaching means.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of a complement of gutter-supporting elements used in the ventilator.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an element of the outer curb of the ventilator. The'ventilator that is illustrated is shown with three units--two side units 10 that are similar but opposite, and a middle uni-t 11 from which the side units extend. The triple-unit ventilator is, of course, exemplary, since two units, instead of three, may be used where a smaller air-venting capacity will serve, or more than three units used if the size of the building being served warrants the same. A triple-unit ventilator, it is thought, will suffice in the large majority of installations.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the three units 10 and 11 may be designed with the middle unit 11 level and the side units 10 sloping at a flat pitch from the middle outward with a shallow included angle therebetween. Such an arrangement insures eiiicient drainage of precipitation, as will be clear.

The present triple ventilator is adapted to be mounted on the roof of an industrial building over an opening cut or provided in said building and to be afiixed to outer longitudinal structural members 12 of the roof structure or truss and the middle longitudinal structural members 13. Thus, four roof members are required for mounting a triple-unit ventilator; three for a double-unit ventilator; and five for a four-unit device, etc. In this case, the roof members 12 are shown as channels and the memers 13 as I- or H-beams. It will be understood that the roof members 12 and 13 are fixed members and that the manner of their mounting is not material. The present ventilator is aifixed to and, therefore, supported by such roof members.

The present ventilator comprises, generally, two outer curb assemblies 15 adapted to be longitudinally mounted on and affixed to the roof members 12; two middle curb assemblies 16 adapted to be longitudinally mounted on and afiixed to the roof members 13; end support assemblies 17, one at each end of the ventilator; an end plate 18 enclosing each assembly 17; gusset means 19 mounted on the curb assemblies 15 and 16 and connected to the end support assemblies 17; middle support assemblies 20; gusset means 21 also mounted on the curb assemblies 15 and 16 and connected to the middle suppont assemblies; bolt means 22 interconnecting the gusset means 159 and 21 with the outer and middle curb assemblies 15 and 16; a top drain gutter 23 disposed longitudinally of each unit 10 and 11 and carried by the middle support assemblies 20 of said units; a similarly disposed bottom drain gutter 24 also carried by said middle support assemblies; bot-tom baiiies 25 carried by the end support assemblies 17 of said units 10 and 11 and cooperating with the end plates 18 to define a drain-for precipitation collected at the sides of the ventilator; center gutters 26 extending between adjacent middle assemblies 20 and between the end assemblies 17 and the adjacent assemblies 20; a splash shield 27 at the discharge end of the gutters 26 that terminate at the sides of the side units 10; and side closure walls or caps 28 that cooperate with the support assemblies 17 and 20 that are at the outsides of the units 10 to define a water dis- I charge passage 29, one at each side of the ventilator.

Each outer curb assembly 15 comprises a length of curb flashing 35 that is adapted to be afiixed to channel 12 in any suitable way. The same has a W cross-section of which a web 36 constitutes a clamp wall, and a flange 37, a stiffener for said wall. Each assembly 15 also comprises a channel 38 that cooperates with web 36 to clamp 3 the gusset means 19 and 21, as will later be seen and as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Each middle curb assembly 16 comprises two similar clamping channels 39 that are provided with longitudi nally extending grooves 40 which engage the upper flanges of the I-bearns 13 so that said channels are in,back-toback clamping engagement with gusset means 19 and 21,- as in FIGS. 2 and 5. g

Each end support assembly 17 comprises a set of partition plates 41, each of which has an upper outer sloping edge 42, a vertical outer edge 43, a lower sloping edge 44, an inner edge 44a, and a gutter-engaging hook 45. One of said plates 41 is shown in FIG. 6 and, as indicated in FIG. 2, each side unit 10 is preferably provided with three such plates at each end thereof. The middle unit 11 is preferably similarly provided with six partition plates 41, three at each end. Thus, in the triple-unit ventilator shown, eighteen partition plates 41 are provided. U p

Each end plate 18 is formed to be afiixed to the edges 42 and 43 of the partition plate 41at eachend, as can be seen in FIG. 3. Thus, said plates 18 constitute end closures for the ventilator. At the top, each end plate has a reinforcing bent portion 46 and, at the bottom, each end plate 18 is extended at 47 to extend below the lower edges of the partition plate. This relationship is clearly shown in FIG. 3. I The gusset means 19 is connected to the partition plates through the baffles 25, said means 19 comprising gusset plates 48that extend between the clamp webs 36 and channels 38 of the outer curb assemblies 15, and gusset plates 49 that extend between the channels 39 of the middle curb assemblies 16. There are two gusset plates 49 at each assembly 16 at each end of the ventilator.

Each of the middle support assemblies (here shown as a single assemblylcomprisestwo partition plates 41 with their edges 43 clamping between them splash shield means, here shown as splash plates 50 that, except that they terminate at the top in a small fiangeSl instead of the top sloping portion of end plates 18, are similar to the latter plates, In other respects, the assemblies 20 are practically double assemblies 1'7 and the plates 41 thereof are formed to have edge portions similar to the pertions 42, 43, 44, 44a and 45 described above. 7 The gusset means 21 is connectedto the partition plates 41 of the assemblies 29 through the bottom gutter 24, similar to the arrangement described in regard to assemblies 17 and gusset means 19. v

It will be evident, therefore, that eachassembly 17 and 20 may be separately assembled at the factory or at the job site, on the ground, and hoisted into place by inserting the gusset plates intothe indicated positions at the outer and middle curbs. Byproviding the lower edges of the gusset plateswithV-notches 52 and setting the saine over the bolt means 22, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, and, then tightening said bolt means, the assemblies may be locked in place onto the curbs 1 and 16. Of course, the gussets 48 maybe first so assembled onto the curbs, and then the different gutters, baffies and assemblies 17 and 20 successively bolted one to the other until firial assembly is achieved. In either case, the work can be accomplished expeditiously and safely, according to the objects of the invention.

Whether separately applied or first connected to the as semblies 17, the top and bottom gutters 23 and 24 extend transversely of the ventilator in three sections (for a triple-unit device) that overlap so that the gutters of the middle section 11 discharge onto those of the side sections 19. ,The above is true also of the disposition and overlap of the sections of the battles 25. In this case, the bottom walls 53 of the baflies join the mentioned extensions 47 of the end plates 18 to form troughs 54 along which waterflows to be discharged at the sides of the ventilator. Gutters 23 and 24 discharge in the same way, i.e., at the sides.

With the assemblies 17 and 20 in place, it is a simple matter to install the longitudinally sectional center gutters 26, as in FIG. 3. To insure that said gutters 26 discharge as do the other gutters, the splash shield 27 is provided to span between the assemblies 17 and 20 and between two assemblies 20. It is into the discharge passages 29 at each side that the troughs and gutters above described discharge, the same being enclosed by the side walls 28, as shown in FIG. 2.

While only a short length of ventilator is shown in FIG. 3, the means shown may be repeated many times to provide a construction that has a large number of gutters. The ends shown will be the same, but the assemblies 20 will be multiplied as will the gutters 23, 24 and 26. Since the length of the ventilator may vary, the closure plates 28 may be made up in sections and held together by splicing means shown at 55. The corners of the plate sections at the ends are preferably made to conform to the top slopes of the plates 18. The intermediate plate sections may be rectangular so that the splices 55 may connect them. FIG. 3 also shows that the ventilator units 10 and 11 are each symmetrical on both sides of a central plane that extends through the gutter 26.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the arrows 55 which may be reversed to travel outward instead of inward, indicate the path of movement of air through the ventilator, it being clear that the construction provides for interception of precipitation and free movement of air, in either direction, between the top and bottom of the ventilator.

Such seals, mastic, insulation, etc., that may be advantageously employed, may be used in any suitable way and do not affect the concepts of this invention.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope bf the invention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 1. A roof ventilator comprising at least two longitudinal ven'tilator units in end-to-end arrangement and each provided with a set of vertically spaced, staggered and transversely disposed precipitation-draining gutters that are spaced to produce air-venting passages between the top and bottom of the units, and means to mount said twouuits to include a shallow angle between the units where the ends of the same join, whereby the gutters of one, unit are disposed at said angle relative to the gutters of the other unit, each unit being symmetrical on both sides of a plane extending vertically and longitudinally through the upper gutter.

2 A roofventilator comprising three end-to-end longitudinal ventilator units each provided with a set of ver tically spaced, staggered and transversely disposed precipitation-draining gutters that are spaced to produce air venting passages between the top and bottom of the units, the middle unit and the troughs thereof being level, and means mounting the two outer units to include a shallow angle between the units where the ends of the outer units join the middle unit, so that the gutters of said outer units are disposed at a precipitation-draining angle relative to the gutters of the middle unit, each unit being symmetrical on both sides of a plane extending vertically and longitudinally through the upper gutter.

3. A roof ventilator according to claim 2 in which the ends of the gutters in the middle unit are extended to overlap beyond the adjacent ends of the outer gutters.

4. In a roof ventilator having an air-venting structure; parallel, angular, longitudinal members of a building roof; a vertical support-plate means for mounting the ventilator on saidlongitudinal members, clamping dc.

vices having a pair of angular members each of which has a vertically disposed web that is in spaced and parallel relation with the web of the other member of the pair, said clamping devices being secured to said angular longitudinal roof members with said webs of the clamping devices parallel to said longitudinal members, at least two of said clamping devices having an outer disposition along the sides of the ventilator, one member of each of the latter clamping devices comprising a portion of a length of W-sectioned sheet metal which is attached to an outer roof member and the other member comprising a channel, the vertical-supp0rt plate means having their lower edges between the webs of the clamping devices and having their upper portions extending upwardly for supporting the air-venting structure, and bolt means connecting the webs of the clamping devices to clamp said lower edges of the plate means between said webs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 226,625 Pardessus Apr. 20, 1880 1,569,060 Wright Jan. 12, 1926 1,850,793 Hawes Mar. 22, 1932 2,404,961 I-loch July 30, 1946 2,687,685 Knutson Aug. 31, 1954 2,784,660 Johnson Mar. 12, 1957 2,868,104 Honholt Jan. 13, 1959 2,944,781 Masters July 12, 1960 

4. IN A ROOF VENTILATOR HAVING AN AIR-VENTING STRUCTURE; PARALLEL, ANGULAR, LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS OF A BUILDING ROOF; A VERTICAL SUPPORT-PLATE MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE VENTILATOR ON SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS, CLAMPING DEVICES HAVING A PAIR OF ANGULAR MEMBERS EACH OF WHICH HAS A VERTICALLY DISPOSED WEB THAT IS IN SPACED AND PARALLEL RELATION WITH THE WEB OF THE OTHER MEMBER OF THE PAIR, SAID CLAMPING DEVICES BEING SECURED TO SAID ANGULAR LONGITUDINAL ROOF MEMBERS WITH SAID WEBS OF THE CLAMPING DEVICES PARALLEL TO SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS, AT LEAST TWO OF SAID CLAMPING DEVICES HAVING AN OUTER DISPOSITION ALONG THE SIDES OF THE VENTILATOR, ONE MEMBER OF EACH OF THE LATTER CLAMPING DEVICES COMPRISING A PORTION OF A LENGTH OF W-SECTIONED SHEET METAL WHICH IS ATTACHED TO AN OUTER ROOF MEMBER AND THE OTHER MEMBER COMPRISING A CHANNEL, THE VERTICAL-SUPPORT PLATE MEANS HAVING THEIR LOWER EDGES BETWEEN THE WEBS OF THE CLAMPING DEVICES AND HAVING THEIR UPPER PORTIONS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FOR SUPPORTING THE AIR-VENTING STRUCTURE, AND BOLT MEANS CONNECTING THE WEBS OF THE CLAMPING DEVICES TO CLAMP SAID LOWER EDGES OF THE PLATE MEANS BETWEEN SAID WEBS. 